A Rose Hidden in The Thorns.

Chapter 14: Worried.

"Anak?"

Tumayo ako sa pagkakahiga nang marinig ang boses ni Mommy.

"I'm coming in." Bumukas ang pinto ng madilim kong kwarto at roon pumasok si Mommy. "Hi, you're still awake." I smiled at her. "Can I turn on the lights?"

"Umm,"

She turned on the lights and I got a clearer sight of her. Her eyes are swollen, sumisinghot-singhot pa siya. Unti-unti ko ring na aamoy ang alcohol sa kanya habang naglalakad siya palapit sakin.

"You're drunk." I stated.

She chuckled as she finially got close to me. She sat on the bed, she look so worn out.

Tabi kaming matutulog dahil isa lang ang kwartong available sa kaibigan ni mommy.

"Does mommy stink, baby?" Malambing niyang turan at pilit akong hinihila pahiga pero hindi ako nagpatinag at nanatiling nakatingin lamang sa kanya. Unti-unti siyang bumangont. I flinched when she grabbed my cheeks with both her hands. "When did my Khai started to get this big, hmm? You used to cling to me all the time, now you don't even wanna lay down besides drunk mommy anymore, hmp!" Umiwas siya nang tingin tila nagtatampo.

I remained silent.

It's my first time to see my mom drunk. Noong nasa negros pa kasi kami'y lagi siyang nasa trabaho. Kung uuwi man siyang lasing ay gabing gabi na siya umuuwi kaya hindi ko na siya naabutan.

Siya rin ang unang nagsalita muli. Umusog siya sakin at niyakap ako sa bewang, her arm wrapped around my waist. I lifted my arms and hugged her back.

When she's like this, she reminds me of Aidan. Those times that he would hug and bug me.

"Anak..." Mahinhin siyang tawag.

"Hmm?"

"A-are you mad at mommy?" May pagaalinlangan niyang tanong.

Am I?

Am I mad at her? Pinakiramdamn ko ang sarili kong may nararamdaman ba 'kong kahit bahid lang nang galit sa loob. But nothing. Rather, I guess I was just a bit of disappointed.

I can't help but to chuckle because of that. "Would you believe me if I say no?"

Naramdaman ko ang bahagyang paghigpit nang yakap niya. "I wouldn't blame you if you are. Because of my poor decisions, it leads us to... This."

"Mom," Niyakap ko siya nang mahigpit. "If the 'this' you're talking about is having you hug me this long for the first time, no, mom. I could never be mad at you."

Hindi siya umimik ngunit naririnig ko ang mga hikbi niya. "I-i'm sorry. I'm sorry, a-anak..." Bulong niya.

"Mommy..."

"I-if only you e-end up with a better mother-"

"Mom!" Daing ko. Unti-unti na ring namumuo ang mga luha saking mga mata. "Please, don't say that."

"K-khai... Khai ko... A-ang Khai ko..." Pag-iyak niya.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang mapaiyak. "I-i'm here, mommy. Dito l-lang ako. By your side,"

"M-mahal na mahal k-ka ni mommy, a-anak. Y-you're the best t-thing that happened t-to me..."

The night ended with my mom crying her heart out, drunk. Kusa rin siyang nakatulog pagkatapos ma iyak.

I woke up five in the morning because of the knocking on the door. Dahan-dahan kong tinaggal ang pagkakayak sa 'kin ni Mommy.

When I glanced at the window ay madilim pa. Mukang hindi pa sumisikat ang araw. Who's knocking at this time?